Rome, or the Eternal City, is famously regarded as a travel destination for architecture, history, and cultural enthusiasts. Because of its significant place in world history, Rome is seen to be an interesting city for the adults but not the children. This is where we have to correct the misconception. Travelling is always fascinating, even with the kids around, especially in places where the mix of cultural knowledge and entertainment is evident. Trust us when we say that you can definitely take the kids with you on a trip to this popular Italian city. As the kids grow old, they’ll thank you for a unique experience they had in Rome. It’s not every day that the kiddos get to see intricately designed churches and taste authentic Italian pizza, pasta, and gelato, and check out the catacombs, right? As young as they are, kids can learn to understand and appreciate new adventures and a foreign culture. As they grow older, they’ll become more respectful of differences, of traditions, and of variations in culture. So pack your bags, take the kids to Rome, and enjoy every moment of fun and learning. You may use our list of things to do in Rome with kids for an easier itinerary schedule.
Cost: $62 to $72
On top of our list of things you should do in Rome with kids is a unique activity your kids will only get to experience in Rome. At Via Appia Antica, a gladiator school has been welcoming children (and adults, too) to its wonderfilled 2-hour lesson on being gladiators. Gladiators are ancient Roman fighters who use the swords in fighting. This activity is usually enticing for the little boys (ages 8 and above) who love to imagine becoming heroes and saving the world. Inside the gladiator school, your kids will learn how to use the sword, fight like a Roman warrior, learn about Roman weapons, and absorb information about life in the imperial city. The 2-hour course will start with a visit to the museum of Gruppo Storico Romano (Historic Group of Rome) where kids will be able to see genuine artefacts and even try on different armors. Then, they will be asked to wear the gladiator tunic and leather gloves. When they’re all done preparing the costumes, they will be introduced to expert instructors who will train them about using the sword and basic combat techniques. After the -hour course, your kids will receive a certificate to show their friends that they’ve been trained to become gladiators. Sounds exciting, right? Book your children for a 2-hour class on the school’s website.
Cost: $10 to $13.5
Does the idea of a time machine excite you or your kids? Everybody wants to try to go back in time at least once. Weren’t you curious to see how people in the past lived or to correct a mistake they had made several years ago? At the Time Elevator Rome, you won’t be able to make amends for a wrong done in the past. What you can do is experience travelling back in time to explore Rome’s early days. You and the kids will be able to witness the Renaissance as well as the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. You can also see Rome in different time frames, from the ancient to the medieval and the 20th century. The Time Elevator is actually a technology wonder which uses simulation. Once you are inside the movable platform, a 5D immersive film will be played across the screen. You can also choose the language you want to be played inside the Time Elevator. It is offered in English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, French, and German languages. Moreover, the elevator then falls and goes into different time sets. You can enjoy a simulation experience, like feeling the rain, snow, and other kind of events as your travel back in time progresses. The experience lasts for 45 minutes, and by this time, your kids have already been filled with awe at the magical journey they experienced inside the elevator. You can experience the Time Elevator daily, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., for $10 (child) or $13.5 (adult).
Cost: Free
An exciting area for kids is one where they have a massive space to run, jump, and play on. Usually, they crave to go outside because they feel caged inside the house with all their toys and gadgets. Out in the open, kids feel free to explore. It’s such a beautiful feeling, isn’t it? Even for us adults, freedom is something we won’t trade for the world’s mundane luxuries. The Circus Maximus in Rome is a perfect spot for you and the kids to freely roam around. The Circus Maximus used to be one of the world’s biggest sporting arenas. Measuring over 650 yards long and 150 yards wide, this space had once been a popular site for ancient chariot races. Today, the Circus Maximus looks like an oblong depression in the earth and currently serves as a park and a museum. At the Circus Maximus, children can run around in the grassy play area. Families can have a simple picnic while imagining as if they’re attending a chariot race. This huge space will definitely make your kids do whatever they want as they enjoy the sunshine in Rome.
Cost: $12 to $36
When you’re in Italy, it’s a no-brainer to taste the iconic food from the country which is loved all over the world – pizza! In Rome, however, you won’t only get to taste this delicious food, because you can actually make you own. Located at the heart of Rome, That’s Amore is a popular restaurant which only offers authentic Italian food. The restaurant also has a pizza-making lesson for kids and adults alike. If you sign up for a 90-minute pizza-making lesson in That’s Amore, your kids will experience making pizza from scratch using fresh ingredients. They will be under the tutorial of a Fabiolous Chef who will guide them throughout the Italian tradition of cooking pizza. Preparing pizza dough, experimenting on the ingredients for the pizza, and garnishing the pizza are just some of the basic things your kids will learn while doing the activity. Moreover, they can ask questions and freely interact with the chef. After making their very own authentic Italian pizza, your whole family can enjoy the kids’ masterpiece with a complimentary bruschetta, drink, and dessert. That sounds like a tasteful activity in Rome with the kids, doesn’t it? The pizza-making course at That’s Amore starts at 5:00 p.m.
Are you familiar with a wishing well? I’m sure your kids know some stories about wishing wells in movies. Legend has it that when you throw a coin into a wishing well, your wish will come true. The case is almost the same for Rome’s most popular fountain – the Trevi Fountain. Built around the 1700s, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most iconic spots in Rome. In here, tourists perform a tradition of tossing a coin into the fountain with a promise to return to the Eternal City. No scientific evidence has proved this theory, although history claims that the ancient Romans used to throw a coin into a pool or a fountain to symbolize their prayer to the gods for a safe return. Some new beliefs on throwing a coin into the fountain are: using the right hand and throwing the coin over your left shoulder, throwing the first coin signifies an assurance to return to Rome, and throwing a second coin signifies looking for love. Of course, nothing is really proven. But then again, it wouldn’t hurt to let the kids join in this custom and hope to return someday to this lovely city. Plus, with the coins you toss into the fountain, you can help feed the hungry as the coins (which count to $3,300 on an average day) are collected daily for the local Catholic charity.
Cost: $8.9
We know what you’re thinking: How in the world can kids enjoy exploring the catacombs? Well, you’d be surprised at how all your kids are excited to go into a spooky tunnel and explore these tombs of historical account. Rome, being a significant part of the world’s history, is home to several catacombs or burial places. The best area to do this activity is on the Apian Way where the catacombs of St. Callisto and St. Sebastian are just down the road from each other. As you and the kids walk inside the tunnel, the children can gain knowledge on Roman history. The Catacomb of St. Callisto is a huge one. It is distinct in such a way that it has a colorful decoration including graffiti of doves, fish, and other Christian symbols. The Catacombs of St. Sebastian, however, is found below a basilica in the area. The Catacombs of S. Sebastian once housed the remains of St. Peter and St. Paul before these were transferred to the Vatican and the San Paolo Fuori le Mura. A trip to the catacombs might be a short activity but one that’s filled with learning for children.
Click here for more details
Cost: $13.4
As we mentioned earlier, travelling to Rome is equivalent to exploring history. The Eternal City has evidences of the ancient as well as touch of the contemporary globalized world. Another fun activity to keep the kids engaged and interested in Rome is a visit to Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini. This place features a multimedia tour, a gallery, excavations, and the palace. When inside, you and your kids will be taken to see a series of excavated houses beneath the Palazzo Valentini. These houses are brought back to life via multimedia projections to tell their stories. Everything inside the Domus Romane tells of a historical account about ancient Rome. Your kids will also love to see the palace called Palazzo Valentini, which was the seat of the province of Rome since 1873 and had started construction in 1585. You can visit Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini daily, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission costs $9 per child and $13.5 per adult visitor.
Cost: Free
A visit to Rome isn’t complete when you haven’t taken the kids to see the Pantheon. Originally built to serve as a temple for the deities, the Pantheon (“pan” which means “all” and “theon” which means “deities”) now serves as a church in Rome. This church which has been erected in 27 BB by the Emperor Hadrian is easy to spot for its marvelous architecture and solid-looking building. Its dome measures over 42 meters across and just hangs without any support besides the walls of the Pantheon. But inside this grand structure is a hole at the center of the Pantheon, which measures 3.6 meters. Some say that the hole serves as the source of light of the Pantheon because it has no windows. Others say that it was purposefully placed so that there will be the perception of the Emperor appearing inside the church showered with light from the heavens. Regardless of the reason for the hole inside the Pantheon, the kids can do whatever they want peeking through it. They can imagine reaching for the skies or seeing through heaven. Plus, they get to go inside an important Roman structure. The Pantheon is open daily, and has free admission for everyone.
Cost: $9
Most kids would rather stay at home and watch their favorite cartoon than go out and tour a museum. Well, there’s a way to make them appreciate museums, because there is a special museum in Rome designed for children’s enjoyment. The Explora Children’s Museum’s slogan is “learning by doing”. From this, you can tell the kids that they can play and have loads of fun in this museum. For instance, the kids can check out interactive exhibits about science and history, such as driving and controlling Italy’s fastest train or the red arrow and playing in the water learning about hydraulic principles. They can also join in creative workshops. Or the kids can play pretend in role play spaces, such as a supermarket, a kitchen, and many other venues where they can expand their imagination. Likewise, there is a soft play area for your toddlers. The kids will absolutely love going to museums after this trip. You can visit the Explora Children’s Museum for a fee of $9 (ages 3 and above).
Cost: $13.5
Another must-do in travelling to Rome with the kids (or with anybody else actually) is visiting the Colosseum. This impressive iconic amphitheater in Rome has received nothing but superb reviews from the visitors. Your kids will love this grand structure which still stands after almost 2,000 years. The Colosseum in Rome houses spectacles on the arena floor. Beneath it is a hypogeum, or a subterranean holding area, where leopards, bears, lions, and elephants were once held. You can point to the kids the spots where lions were once held captive. The Colosseum is open daily and has strict security, so expect long queues especially on peak hours. We recommend taking the kids to the Colosseum in the morning at around 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a less crowded experience. Admission tickets cost $13.5.
Cost: $7.7 to $9.9
Puppets are very amusing for the kids. They love how these seemingly lifeless creatures come alive onstage and talk in small voices. In Rome, puppet shows are part of a European tradition which until this day is being supported by the locals. Let your kids experience watching a puppet show in Rome in either of these two theaters: the Teatrino di Pulcinella al Gianicolo or the San Carlino Theater. Both theaters have different spectacles for children to see. The Teatrino di Pulcinella al Gianicolo is an open-air puppet theater featuring the hand-puppet called Pulcinella (the main character in Punch and Judy shows). Most shows at this puppet theater are scheduled on Sunday mornings, from 10:30 a.m. to 12nn. Meanwhile, the San Carlino puppet theater also features a Pulcinella but in a different setting. At the San Carlino theater, the puppets interact with the puppeteers, the musicians, and other actors. Shows at the San Carlino theater are scheduled from mid-September to mid-June every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday. For sure, your kids will have a great time watching a lively and colorful show of these puppets.
Cost: $2.8 to $28
Who says no to ice cream? Or a gelato, for that matter! Gelato is found in nearly every corner of Rome. You will probably see three or four carts and shops selling gelato while you and the kids are strolling around. And of course, the kids will force you to buy them this delicious dessert. Even you may probably be craving to taste the authentic gelato flavors made by the locals. Gelato comes in a few classic flavors, such as banana lime and seadas. Where can you get the best gelato in Rome? Well, there are many options. But we recommend that you buy your kids any flavor of gelato at the carts you’ll pass by or probably at Fatamorgana (a famous local chain of gelato in Rome) and take them to the Spanish steps. The Spanish steps is considered the widest staircase in Europe. It has 138 steps and provides a nice place for your kids to sit and enjoy their gelato while staring at the beauty of Rome.
Cost: $9 to $11.3
You can’t leave Rome when you haven’t visited St. Peter’s Basilica. But you won’t forget Rome if you got the chance to climb up to the church’s cupola or dome. And yes, this activity is safe for children, so there’s no reason for you to leave them behind while you climb up. Reaching the top of the dome can be accomplished in two ways: walk through all the 551 steps going up or ride the lift halfway (up to the 320th step) and continue walking the remaining steps. Your choice, of course. As you climb up with the kids, you can tell them some facts about the dome, i.e. how it’s considered the greatest architectural work of the famous Michelangelo. When you reach the top of the cupola, enjoy a breathtaking view of the Eternal City and the church’s nave. We strongly recommend doing this activity early in the morning, at around the basilica’s opening time (8:00 a.m.) for a less crowded experience. Admission tickets for the climb cost $9 if you’re taking the stairs and $11.3 if you’re taking the lift halfway.
Cost: $3.3 to $16.8
The legendary road in Rome, Via Appia Antica or the Appian Way is a popular cycling path for locals and tourists. You can do this biking activity as a family and explore the city. A stroll along the Appian Way will treat your senses to picturesque sceneries of lush green fields, woods, pine trees, and ruins. You can rent a bike for $3.3 per hour or $13.8 per day from the Appia Antica Regional Park Information Point.
Cost: $3.3
Last but not the least on our list of recommended things to do in Rome with kids is boating on the lake at the Borghese Gardens. This public park, which is also the second largest in Rome, boasts of several attractions to excite the young ones. They can rent a bike, ride a Segway, ride a pony, explore the gardens, and interact with animals at the zoo. Kids can also ride a train around the gardens. Likewise, the kids can ride on a rowboat on the lake and admire the sceneries around them.
Now that you’ve been acquainted with fun things to do in Rome with the kids, it’s time to book your tickets and fly to the Eternal City.
Twitter
Add a Comment
Please do not post:
Thank you once again for doing your part to keep Edarabia the most trusted education source.